Coordinated action robotic system and related methods

ABSTRACT

A coordinated action robotic system may include a plurality of robotic vehicles, each including a platform and at least one manipulator movable relative thereto. The robotic system may also include a remote operator control station that may include a respective controller for each manipulator. The remote operator control station may also include a mapping module to map movement of each manipulator relative to its platform. Operation of the controllers for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction such that the robotic vehicles may be controlled as if they were one robotic vehicle. The coordinated movement may result in increased operational efficiency, increased operational dexterity, and increased ease of controlling the robotic vehicles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of robotic vehicles, and more particularly, coordinated control of robotic vehicles and related methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A robot may be used for a variety of unmanned operations. One example of an unmanned robot is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), for example, the iRobot Packbot, available from iRobot of Bedford, Mass. A UGV may typically include a platform, and a manipulator carried by the platform that is often primitive and includes joint level control. The single manipulator often performs all of the operations.

A commercial-off-the-shelf robot may have increased flexibility and may include dual arm, dexterous manipulators. One particular example is the MotoMan DIA 10, available from Motoman, Inc. of West Carrollton, Ohio. Academia and research groups may also provide robots with increased functionality, for example, the NASA Robonaut.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,898,484 to Lemelson et al. discloses a system for controlling manufacturing operations. A location of a target object relative to a robotic manipulator is input into a control system. The manipulator and target object are located and tracked via the global positioning system. The control system directs the manipulator to perform operations on each target object based upon the location of the manipulator and target object.

Reduced cost and reduced weight may correspond to limited robot functions. Control of a robot may be limited by a number of ways the robot may be manipulated. More particularly, for example, a robot may have limited dexterity and limited movement in a finite number of directions as a result.

Moreover, when more than one robot having limited dexterity and limited movement is used, it may be difficult for an operator to control each robot. More particularly, when each robot's platform is positioned in a different direction, an operator may find it increasingly difficult to control respective manipulators in a common direction or have coordinated movements from a controller correspond to coordinate movements of the respective manipulators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide coordinated robotic vehicle manipulator movements.

This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a coordinated action robotic system that includes a plurality of robotic vehicles. Each of the plurality of robotic vehicles may include a platform and at least one manipulator movable relative thereto. The robotic system may also include a remote operator control station that may include a respective controller for each manipulator, for example. The remote operator control station may further include a mapping module to map movement of each manipulator relative to its platform so that operation of the controllers for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction. Accordingly, the coordinated action robotic system provides coordinated robotic vehicle manipulator movements, and thus increased dexterity thereof.

The mapping module may map movement of each manipulator based upon a common coordinate system. The common coordinate system may be based upon a selected one of the robotic vehicles, for example.

Each robotic vehicle may include a sensor arrangement for sensing a relative position and orientation between the platform and the at least one manipulator. The mapping module may map movement of each manipulator based upon the relative position and orientation between each platform and at least one manipulator, for example. The sensor arrangement may also sense yaw, heading, and attitude of the platform.

Each robotic vehicle may further include a geospatial position determining device. The mapping module may map movement of each manipulator based upon the geospatial position of each robotic vehicle.

The robotic system may further include a respective communications link between each robotic vehicle and the remote operator control station. At least one of the communications links may include a wireless communications link, for example.

Each robotic vehicle may further include at least one image sensor carried by the platform. The remote operator control station may further include at least one display for displaying images from the image sensors. Each robotic vehicle may include a ground drive arrangement carried by the platform, for example.

A method aspect may include coordinating robotic action in a robotic system. The robotic system may include a plurality of robotic vehicles, each including a platform and at least one manipulator movable relative thereto, and a remote operator control station including a respective controller for each manipulator, for example. The method may include mapping movement, using the remote operator control station, of each manipulator relative to its platform so that operation of the controllers for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a coordinated action robotic system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of a coordinated action robotic system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the mapping module at the robotic vehicles of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating mapped movement of the system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of coordinating robotic action in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a coordinated action robotic system 10 illustratively includes a plurality of robotic vehicles 12 a-12 n. Each of the plurality of robotic vehicles 12 a-12 n includes a platform 15 a-15 n and a manipulator 13 a-13 n movable relative thereto. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n may include more than one manipulator 13 a-13 n, each moveable relative to the corresponding platform 15 a-15 n. Each manipulator 13 a-13 n may be, for example, a robotic arm that is capable of grasping and moving an object. Other types of manipulators may be used.

Each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n also includes a ground drive arrangement 24 a-24 n carried by the platform 15 a-15 n. Illustratively, the ground drive arrangement 24 a-24 n includes a pair of individually driven tracks for good maneuverability in different terrain. Other types of ground drive arrangements may be used, such as a wheel-based ground drive arrangement, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Of course, the platform drive arrangement may permit operation on water or other surfaces as well.

The robotic system 10 also illustratively includes a remote operator control station 30. The remote operator control station 30 includes a respective controller 31 a-31 n for each manipulator 13 a-13 n. Each respective controller 31 a-31 n, for example, as illustrated, may be a joystick. Other respective controllers (not shown) may also be used for controlling locomotion of each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n. Other types of controllers may be used, and controller functionality may be shared, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n further illustratively includes an image sensor 22 a-22 n carried by the platform 15 a-15 n. For example, the image sensor 22 a-22 n may be a camera to advantageously provide an operator at the remote operation control station 30 a visual indication of the environment of each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n. Other types of image sensors may be used, such as in infrared or night vision, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n also includes a sensor arrangement 16 for sensing a relative position and orientation between the platform and the manipulator 13 a-13 n. The sensor arrangement 16 may also cooperate with a robotic vehicle processor 25 to sense, for example, yaw, heading, and attitude of the platform 15 a-15 n. In some embodiments, yaw, heading, and attitude data may be provided by an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS). Yaw, heading, and attitude may be provided by other types of sensor arrangements, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n illustratively includes a geospatial position determining device 17. For example, each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n may include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver 17 for determining geospatial position from a GPS satellite 11.

The sensed relative position and orientation between the platform 15 a-15 n and the manipulator 13 a-13 n, along with the yaw, heading and attitude data, may be communicated to the remote operator control station 30 via the respective robotic vehicle transceiver 21 a-21 n. The robotic vehicle transceiver 21 a-21 n may communicate with the remote operator control station transceiver 33 via a respective communications link 23 a-23 n between each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n and the remote operator control station.

Each respective communications link 23 a-23 n illustratively includes a wireless communications link. For example, the wireless communications link may be an RF communications link. In other embodiments, some or all of the respective communications links 23 a-23 n may be wired communications links, for example, as provided by tether assemblies. Other wired or wireless communications links may be used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The geospatial position data may be similarly communicated to the remote operator control station 30, and may be communicated over the respective communications links 23 a-23 n. Additional communications links (not shown) may be provided for communicating the geospatial position data. Other data, for example, robotic vehicle locomotion commands from the remote operator control station 30 and image sensor data or images associated with each image sensor 22 a-22 n, may also be communicated over each communications link 23 a-23 n. Images associated with each image sensor 22 a-22 n are displayed on a display 34 included at the remote operator control station 30. Other robotic vehicle sensors, including state-of-health and power supply sensors may also be included.

The remote operator control station 30 includes a processor 35 that, in turn, includes a mapping module 32, to map movement of each manipulator 13 a-13 n relative to its platform 15 a-15 n so that operation of the controllers 31 a-31 n for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction.

Based upon the relative position and orientation between each platform 15 a-15 n and its corresponding manipulator 13 a-13 n received by the remote operator control station transceiver 33, the mapping module 32 maps movement of each manipulator. The mapping module 32 may additionally geospatially map movement of each manipulator 13 a-13 n based upon the received geospatial position of each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n.

The mapping module 32 advantageously maps movement of each manipulator 13 a-13 n based upon a common coordinate system. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the common coordinate system may be based upon a selected one of any of the robotic vehicles 13 a-13 n. In some embodiments, the common coordinate system may be based upon a target object 14, or may be based upon any other defined coordinate system.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 3, an example of the operation of the mapping module 32 is now described. Illustratively, robotic vehicles 12 a, 12 b each have a different orientation with reference to the world coordinate system xyz_(w). An AHRS 16 a, 16 b, for example, provides the global orientation, denoted by xyz_(A) and xyz_(B), of the robotic vehicles 12 a, 12 b with respect to the world coordinate system xyz_(w). The mapping module 32 defines the elements of the transforms T_(A) ^(w) and T_(B) ^(w), respectively. Transforms T_(A,arm) ^(A) and T_(B,arm) ^(B), represent transformation matrices to the respective platforms 15 a, 15 b of each manipulator 13 a, 13 b with respect to the respective coordinate systems at the vehicles 12 a, 12 b.

Based upon the above orientation information, including the transforms, the mapping module 32 calculates a unit vector pointing from xyz_(A,arm) to xyz_(B,arm). The unit vector is illustratively represented by {right arrow over (x)}′_(arms) and {right arrow over (g)} represents the unit vector pointing in the direction of gravity, as measured by the AHRS 16 a, 16 b.

A {right arrow over (y)}_(arms) vector can be formed by crossing {right arrow over (x)}′_(arms) with {right arrow over (g)}, for example, {right arrow over (y)}_(arms)={right arrow over (x)}′_(arms)×{right arrow over (g)}. Similarly, {right arrow over (x)}_(arms) and {right arrow over (z)}_(arms) can be formed according to the following: {right arrow over (x)}_(arms)={right arrow over (g)}×{right arrow over (y)}_(arms), {right arrow over (z)}_(arms)=−{right arrow over (g)}. The mapping module 32 can compute the coordinate system xyz_(arms) and advantageously update it on-the-fly to account for movement of each robotic vehicle 12 a, 12 b with respect to the world coordinate system xyz_(w). The common coordinate system xyz_(arms) is illustratively referenced at the midpoint between xyz_(A,arm), and xyz_(B,arm), respectively. Motion commands from the controllers 31 a, 31 b are performed in the common coordinate system xyz_(arms). In other words, input to each of the controllers 31 a, 31 b is mapped in the common coordinate system xyz_(arms).

Referring now additionally to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the common coordinate system is illustratively based upon a selected robotic vehicle 12 a′. Illustratively, the selected robotic vehicle 12 a′ has a different orientation with reference to the target object 14′. A movement of the controller 31 a′, or joystick, in a direction indicated by the arrow 26 a′ corresponds to movement of the manipulator 13 a′ in a corresponding direction indicated by the arrow 27 a′. Advantageously, the mapping module 32′ maps the movement of the manipulator 13 a′ based upon the common coordinate system associated with the robotic vehicle 12 a′. Accordingly, a movement of the controller 31 b′ in a same direction as the controller 31 a′, as indicated by the arrow 26 b′, corresponds to movement of the manipulator 13 b′ in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow 27 b′. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a movement of the controller 31 b′ in a direction opposite to the movement of the controller 31 a′, corresponds to a movement of the manipulator 13 b′ in a direction opposite to the direction of the manipulator 13 a′.

Advantageously, the mapping of the movement of each manipulator 13 a, 13 b relative to its platform 15 a, 15 b to a common coordinate system so that operation of the controllers 31 a, 31 b for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction allows the robotic vehicles 12 a, 12 b to be controlled as if they were one robotic vehicle. Indeed, the coordinated movement may result in increased operational efficiency, increased operational dexterity, and increased ease of controlling the robotic vehicles 12 a, 12 b.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, any number of additional robotic vehicles may be included in the coordinated action robotic system 10 described above. Where more than two robotic vehicles are included in the coordinated action robotic system 10, a common coordinate system is created and the movement of each manipulator 13 a, 13 b, in other words, controller input commands, are mapped to the common coordinate system, as described above.

Referring now to the flowchart 50 of FIG. 5, a method aspect includes coordinating robotic action in a robotic system 10 including a plurality of robotic vehicles 12 a-12 n. Each robotic system 10 includes a platform 15 a-15 n and a manipulator 13 a-13 n movable relative thereto. Each robotic system 10 also includes a remote operator control station 30 that includes a respective controller 31 a-31 n for each manipulator 13 a-13 n. Beginning at Block 52, the method includes sensing a geospatial location at Block 54 determined by a geospatial position determining device on each robotic vehicle. At Block 56, a relative position and orientation between each platform 15 a-15 n and the respective manipulator 13 a-13 n are sensed by a sensor 16 arrangement on each robotic vehicle 12 a-12 n. The sensor arrangement 16 also senses yaw, heading, and attitude of each respective platform 15 a-15 n.

The sensed relative position and sensed orientation between each platform 15 a-15 n and the respective manipulator 13 a-13 n, along with the geospatial position are communicated over each respective communications link 23 a-23 n to the remote operator control station at Block 58. At Block 60 movement of each manipulator 13 a-13 n relative to its platform 15 a-15 n is mapped to a common coordinate system. Mapping results in operation of the controllers 31 a-31 n for manipulator movement in a given direction producing corresponding movement of the respective manipulators 13 a-23 n in the given direction before ending at Block 62. In some embodiments, for example, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, the common coordinate system may be based upon a selected one of the robotic vehicles.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A coordinated action robotic system comprising: a plurality of robotic vehicles, each comprising a platform and at least one manipulator movable relative thereto; and a remote operator control station comprising a respective controller for each manipulator, and a mapping module to map movement of each manipulator relative to its platform so that operation of said controllers for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction irrespective of an orientation of each manipulator relative to said controllers.
 2. The robotic system according to claim 1 wherein said mapping module maps movement of each manipulator based upon a common coordinate system.
 3. The robotic system according to claim 2 wherein the common coordinate system is based upon a selected one of said plurality of robotic vehicles.
 4. The robotic system according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of robotic vehicles comprises a sensor arrangement for sensing a relative position and orientation between said platform and said at least one manipulator; and wherein said mapping module maps movement of each manipulator based upon the relative position and orientation between each platform and at least one manipulator.
 5. The robotic system according to claim 4 wherein said sensor arrangement further senses yaw, heading, and attitude of said platform.
 6. The robotic system according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of robotic vehicles further comprises a geospatial position determining device; and wherein said mapping module maps movement of each manipulator based upon the geospatial position of each robotic vehicle.
 7. The robotic system according to claim 1 further comprising a respective communications link between each robotic vehicle and said remote operator control station.
 8. The robotic system according to claim 7 wherein at least one of said communications links comprises a wireless communications link.
 9. The robotic system according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of robotic vehicles further comprises at least one image sensor carried by said platform; and wherein said remote operator control station further comprises at least one display for displaying images from said image sensors.
 10. The robotic system according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of robotic vehicles further comprises a ground drive arrangement carried by said platform.
 11. A coordinated action robotic system comprising: a plurality of robotic vehicles, each comprising a platform, at least one manipulator movable relative to said platform, and a sensor arrangement for sensing a relative position and orientation between said platform and said at least one manipulator; and a remote operator control station comprising a respective controller for each manipulator, and a mapping module to map to a common coordinate system, movement of each manipulator based upon the relative position and orientation between each platform and at least one manipulator so that operation of said controllers for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction irrespective of an orientation of each manipulator relative to said controllers.
 12. The robotic system according to claim 11 wherein the common coordinate system is based upon a selected one of said plurality of robotic vehicles.
 13. The robotic system according to claim 11 wherein said sensor arrangement further senses yaw, heading, and attitude of said platform.
 14. The robotic system according to claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of robotic vehicles further comprises a geospatial position determining device; and wherein said mapping module maps movement of each manipulator based upon the geospatial position of each robotic vehicle.
 15. The robotic system according to claim 11 further comprising a respective communications link between each robotic vehicle and said remote operator control station.
 16. The robotic system according to claim 15 wherein at least one of said communications links comprises a wireless communications link.
 17. The robotic system according to claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of robotic vehicles further comprises at least one image sensor carried by said platform; and wherein said remote operator control station further comprises at least one display for displaying images from said image sensors.
 18. The robotic system according to claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of robotic vehicles further comprises a ground drive arrangement carried by said platform.
 19. A method of coordinating robotic action in a robotic system comprising a plurality of robotic vehicles, each comprising a platform and at least one manipulator movable relative thereto, and a remote operator control station comprising a respective controller for each manipulator, the method comprising: mapping movement using the remote operator control station of each manipulator relative to its platform so that operation of the controllers for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction irrespective of an orientation of each manipulator relative to the controllers.
 20. The method according to claim 19 wherein mapping movement of each manipulator comprises mapping movement based upon a common coordinate system.
 21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the common coordinate system is based upon a selected one of the plurality of robotic vehicles.
 22. The method according to claim 19 wherein mapping movement of each manipulator comprises mapping movement of each manipulator based upon a relative position and orientation between each platform and at least one manipulator sensed by a sensor arrangement on each of the plurality of robotic vehicles.
 23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the sensor arrangement further senses yaw, heading, and attitude of the platform.
 24. The method according to claim 19 wherein mapping movement of each manipulator comprises mapping movement based upon the geospatial position of each of the plurality of robotic vehicles determined by a geospatial position determining device on each of the plurality of robotic vehicles. 